Your Dog Rescue Stories

Friday, August 17, 2012

Adopting A Dog: Should It Be Based On Your Lot Size?

Photo courtesy of Shamus Fatzinger for The Fairfax County Times

We thoughtthis article in yesterday's Local Section of The Washington Post raised some interesting questions about pet adoption. Apparently, Fairfax County near Washington D.C. has a zoning ordinance that specifies that if you want to have more than two dogs, your property must measure at least 12,500 sq. ft. The couple above, who already has two adopted Pekingese (weighing about nine pounds each), and wanted to adopt a third Pekingese from their local shelter, but were denied because of this ordinance. "We are responsible pet owners and have plenty of room", said Erika Perkins, above. "How many dogs are killed each year because they don't get adopted? Here we are trying to adopt one, and they tell us we can't."

We understand the concept behind the law: to prevent pets living in overcrowded conditions and to nip a possible hoarding situation in the bud. But we tend to agree with the director of shelter services for the Humane Society of the United States, who said that these laws may "inadvertently punish responsible pet owners. Proper care has nothing to do with space and everything to do with responsibility."

We have a very very similar zoning law in our neighborhood,except that it's not based on lot size. You can only have two dogs, period, unless you get a commercial kennel license (Based on the CK requirements, I have the space for a maximum of 15 adult dogs and up to 5 litters of puppies, how is THAT fair?!). Without the commercial license, even though my two small dogs are still less dog than the neighbors boxer, I can't adopt - or even foster - a third. We have the time, money, space and love for another, but unless we leave our hometown, we can't rescue again. It sucks.